Laboratory Safety

Working safely is about building defences or barriers. Our Safe Research resources explain the many tools, techniques and behaviors necessary in the research environment to build the right barriers. Our Lab Safety Representative and P.I. web pages help build and we share information on engineering controls, administrative controls, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and more can be found here. Field Safety, Training

KAUST's Biosafety Program has been developed to protect the research community. the general public and the environment from exposure to hazardous biological agents or materials (biohazards), to promote good microbiological work practices and to assist with compliance with applicable regulations, standards, guidelines and international best practices pertaining to biological research.

Chemicals are used across KAUST for both research and teaching applications. These chemicals have different hazards associated with them (e.g. fire or caustic, etc.) that can have the the potential to cause significant harm if not managed appropriately. HSE has created multiple tools to help lab users safely manage their chemical hazards such as chemical inventory, Safety Data Sheets and more.

Lasers, Ultraviolet (UV),Infrared (IR), Electromagnetic Fields(EMF) including Radiofrequency (RF) and Microwaves (MW), are categorized as Non-ionizing Radiation (NIR)

Our Industrial Hygiene (I.H.) efforts focus on identifying and controlling a number of hazards and exposures. I.H.ʼs can provide respirator training and fit testing, perform risk assessments and perform personal exposure sampling for hazardous substances.

Radiation Safety Program was developed to facilitate and ensure the safe use of ionizing radiation at KAUST. The program provides the technical support necessary, professional guidance, radiation safety training and maintain the general radiation practice license issued by the Saudi Competent Authority for

The universe is our huge laboratory. Conducting research outside of KAUST laboratory premises is considered field research, thus it has certain hazards associated with it. The Field Research Safety Program provides a framework to ensure safety and security of all KAUST researchers, as well as a wide variety of resources to help you determine the safety needs for your upcoming field research.

All KAUST faculty, staff, and students who work in labs with chemical, biological, radiological and/or physical hazards are required to attend the HSE Emergency Incident Preparedness Training, Laboratory Safety Training, and Hazardous Waste Training. This training must occur before any individuals are permitted to work in KAUST laboratories.

Every lab generates some form of waste, so it is important that the requirements for the proper identification, safe storage, handling, and accumulation of hazardous chemical waste are implemented. Waste stream, segregation & storage compatibility, labeling, accumulation limits and container selection are important factors every lab user needs to know.

Physical, mechanical and electrical hazards.

For any emergency, including fires, chemical spills, injuries, accidents, explosions, and medical emergencies, dial 911 from any KAUST landline, including blue-light phones located in common areas throughout the campus. If a KAUST landline is unavailable or inaccessible during an emergency, dial 012-808-0911 from a mobile phone. The 911 Dispatch Center will send appropriate responders (Fire, Security, and/or Medical) to your location.